1955 Ford Popular vs. 1959 Rover P4
To start off, 1959 Rover P4 is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1955 Ford Popular. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1955 Ford Popular would be higher. At 2,286 cc (4 cylinders), 1959 Rover P4 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Rover P4 (67 HP @ 4250 RPM) has 41 more horse power than 1955 Ford Popular. (26 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1959 Rover P4 should accelerate faster than 1955 Ford Popular. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Rover P4 weights approximately 737 kg more than 1955 Ford Popular. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1959 Rover P4 (169 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 106 more torque (in Nm) than 1955 Ford Popular. (63 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1959 Rover P4 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1955 Ford Popular.
Compare all specifications:
| 1955 Ford Popular | 1959 Rover P4 | |
| Make | Ford | Rover |
| Model | Popular | P4 |
| Year Released | 1955 | 1959 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1172 cc | 2286 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 26 HP | 67 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4250 RPM |
| Torque | 63 Nm | 169 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 735 kg | 1472 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3880 mm | 4450 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1440 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1630 mm | 1630 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2300 mm | 2830 mm |
